Wednesday, May 1, 2013

These fashions for May 1810 offer some food for thought. You may notice that while the look is tubular, as we expect in this period, the waistline is more or less in its natural position. According to English Women's Clothing in the Nineteenth Century, the waist was lengthened in this year. Not being a seamstress, though, I wonder whether we're seeing an artistic illusion. In any case, the style reminds me most forcefully of fashions of the early 20th century, especially the 1920s (whose designers apparently borrowed heavily from the Prince Regent's era). Also interesting is the wild mix of cultural references: the Arabian, Egyptian, Armenian, Greek mix is accessorized with York tan gloves.

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comments:

I wish I were talented enough to be able to make patterns of the gowns shown in many of the fashion illustrations, or had money to have gowns made by someone with the talens. The patterns available to us all seem to be based on one or two generic modes without distinction of years . Not that I have a figure for the tubular gown, bit a girl can dream can't she?

I suspect that the early 1810s in England show what happened when the British blockade of France was in force. The waistline in English fashion plates suddenly lowers during 1810, and remains low until 1813/1814, but it remains high in French ones.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51592109@N08/sets/72157624611694164/English first in the set, French second

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51592109@N08/sets/72157624704755764/French first in the set, English second

These historic illustrations are very pretty but it seems they do the same injustice that modern day models do. They portray ultra thin women. That might be okay for even an average size woman but what was the 'larger' lady to do? How was she supposed to know what a particular fashion would look like on her? Are there any illustrations of fashions for 'fat ladies'?

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A Polite Explanation

There’s a big difference in how we use history. But we’re equally nuts about it. To us, the everyday details of life in the past are things to talk about, ponder, make fun of -- much in the way normal people talk about their favorite reality show.

We talk about who’s wearing what and who’s sleeping with whom. We try to sort out rumor or myth from fact. We thought there must be at least three other people out there who think history’s fascinating and fun, too. This blog is for them.